Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Auditor to transfer funds totaling the amount of the bill credits issued year-to-date from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to the Water Operating Fund and to the Power Operating Fund.
The City of Columbus, Department of Public Utilities offers a Low-Income Water and Sewer Discount Program to qualifying customers. A 20% discount is available on water and sewer consumption charges for qualifying low-income customers. A similar program, albeit 25%, is available to low-income Power customers.
In 2023 and 2024, the department offered a one-time $60 and $65 bill credit, respectively, for approved Water low-income customers to offset the annual rate increases for those years. These credits were made possible due to the City's receipt of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, which were appropriated to the City's Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund. 2025 will be the first year a one-time credit is offered for approved low-income Power customers.
Enough ARPA balance remains for the City to cover one-time bill credits for approved Water and Power low-income customers in 2025, with some funding remaining for 2026 credits. The 2025 credits are $65 and $50, respectively.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is sufficient budget authority available in the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund’s Budget to fund the $673,675.00 transfer. These funds were encumbered on ACDI002426 per the authorization in Ordinance 2501-2024.
$298,875.00 was transferred in 2024
$321,666.00 was transferred in 2023
Title
To authorize the City Auditor to transfer $655,925.00 from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to the Water Operating Fund and $17,750.00 from the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to the Power Operating Fund to reimburse those funds for one-time bill credits issued in 2025 ($673,675.00).
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Department of Public Utilities offers a Low-Income Water and Sewer Discount Program and a Low-Income Power Discount Program to qualifying customers; and
WHEREAS, the Department offered a one-time $60 bill credit in 2023 and a one-time $65 bill credit in 2024 for approved low-income Water customers; and
WHEREAS, the Department intends to use remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support one-time low-income bill credits in 2025 and 2026; and
WHEREAS, 2025 will be the first year for the one-time bill credit for approved low-income Power customers; and
WHEREAS, the credits will be $65 for the approved low-income water customers and $50 for the approved low-income Power customers; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities has a need to transfer $673,675.00 between Object Classes within the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (Fund 2209), and funds for the transfer have been identified and are available in Object Class 05 (Other Expenditures); and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities has a need to transfer $655,925.00 between the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund and the Water Operating Fund in order to reimburse the Water Operating Fund for one-time bill credits issued to qualifying low-income customers in 2025; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities has a need to transfer $17,750.00 between the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund and the Power Operating Fund in order to reimburse the Power Operating Fund for one-time bill credits issued to qualifying low-income customers in 2025; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities to authorize the City Auditor to process these transfers; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the transfer of $673,675.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 2209 (Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund), from Dept-Div 6001 (Public Utilities Director's Office), object class 05 (Other Expenditures) to Dept-Div 6001 (Public Utilities Director's Office), object class 10 (Transfers Out) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $673,675.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from Fund 2209 (Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund), Dept-Div 6001 (Public Utilities Director's Office) to Fund 6000 (Water Operating Fund), Dept-Div 6009 (Division of Water) and Fund 6300 (Power Operating Fund), Dept-Div 6007 (Division of Power), per the accounting codes attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.